"On Saturday, June 13th Major Lazer (featuring Diplo and Switch) starts its international Tour of Duty at SOBs.

Major Lazer features legendary DJs Diplo and Switch, both renowned for their ability to get crowds dancing in high-energy and original shows. Diplo, known for his forward-thinking productions for artists such as MIA and Bonde Do Role, incorporates such disparate influences as Miami Bass and Baile Funk into his high-tech, eclectic sound. Switch is loved by critics and dancers alike, and is a leader among DJs. He recently contributed to Santigolds self-titled album to rave reviews. Together they've produced the first LP from Major Lazer, Guns Dont Kill People Lazers Do, set to drop June 16th.

Major Lazer draws from the rich dancehall tradition of Jamaica, and the futuristic dance-floor-killing aesthetic of Diplo and Switch. The sound is the result of global pop culture run through the filter of Major Lazers particular brand of 80s-inspired digital dancehall; it is at once an homage to a bygone era and a look to the future of dance music.

The story of Major Lazer is an interesting one. He has been described as a Jamaican commando who lost his arm in the secret Zombie War of 1984. He fights vampires and various monsters, parties hard, and has a rocket powered skateboard. He has enlisted the help of long-time allies and uber-producers, Diplo and Switch, to produce his first LP.

Combining the worlds best dance music to create a mix of sounds like you've never heard before, Major Lazer will surely start the tour off right on Saturday, June 13th. The set at SOBs will represent the best of many different musical influences that all share one important feature: the ability to get the dance party started."

That's how SOB's describes the show. I think it covers all the major points. Tickets for the NYC show are on sale. MP3 above. All dates and videos (including live from SXSW) below...

"Santigold will take her endless dance party across the US one more time this spring before heading back into the studio to record the follow up to her smash self-titled debut. Santigold will be performing with a full band and dancers for the first time in North America to bring her genre-blending sound to life. Virgin Records artist Trouble Andrew, who can be heard on the Santigold track "I'm A Lady," along with Downtown Records' singer/mc Amanda Blank will be the openers." [PR]

Not part of the tour is Santigold's upcoming appearance at the new Topshop store opening in SoHo. According to NY Mag, Mark Ronson and Lady Gaga will also be there on April 1st, the day before the store on Broadway and Broome officially opens. And there will be deejays...

"It's always nice to have tunes while you're shopping your latest look. It's even nicer when they're played by LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy, Justine D, The Whip and other surprise acts. With DJs on hand throughout the opening week, tapping your toe is inevitable. Make sure you check out the instore schedule to see who is spinning the decks daily." [TOPSHOP]

One of the surprise acts is Kim of Matt & Kim who's spinning on Sunday, April 5th.

UPDATE: Here's the whole DJ (I think just DJ) schedule:

"Fashionable UK clothing stores Topshop and Topman are opening their first American outpost here in New York City, on Thursday, April 2, and EVR is the first to announce the lineup at their grand opening event. EVR's own Andrew Andrew and Cassie and Harley will be there along with The Rapture, Kid Sister, Misshapes, LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy and many more. Located at the corner of Broadway and Broome Street, Topshop and Topman are a celebration of downtown fashion, music, and culture, and East Village Radio is proud to be their radio partner."

The Whip will be in town as part of their tour withLate of the Pier (who are also on the DJ bill as you can now see above). All Santigold tour dates below...

"Conan O'Brien is being lured by University of South Carolina honor students to make an on-campus appearance to receive their "Cocky Award" (named after the school's Gamecock mascot) in honor of his Bud Light Super Bowl ad, in which the comedian sported bunny ears and spoke in a Swedish accent. Daniel Boulud enjoyed the oysters at The Four Seasons Bar Room, while Robert Morgenthau, Jack Rudin, and Edgar Bronfman Sr. lunched nearby. Kate Moss is expected to hit up NYC on April 1 for the opening of Topshop on Broadway and Broome, celebrating with performances by Mark Ronson, Santigold, and Lady Gaga. Wild child Katy Perry likes kissing boys too. She's dating decidedly un-wild singer Josh Groban." [NY Magazine]

Santigold, fresh off a Vermont appearance at the US Open, has a few big shows coming up - two of which are in NYC. The first happens next Wednesday at the new Topshop store (see above). The next is a headlining show at Terminal 5 on June 9th with openers Amanda Blank and Trouble Andrew. $25 tickets for that one go on sale Thursday at noon.

You can also catch Santigold at this year's Ultra Music Festival in Miami (this weekend), Sasquatch Festival, Roots Picnic, and Bonnaroo. All dates below...

Change the graffiti on the bathroom wall, get your tattoo fixed, get your t-shirt airbrushed and change the name on your year end list- Santogold is now Santigold. She's not telling you why, that's just how it is. No unpronounceable symbol, no numbers where they shouldn't be, no random capitalization, just plain ass Santigold so remember that.

Downtown/Lizard King released Santigold's self-titled breakthrough CD in April and it instantly became one of 2008's most acclaimed albums garnering international raves. Critics and radio have championed the record's standout tracks "L.E.S. Artistes", "Creator" and her latest single "Shove It".

Superfly Productions and A.C. Entertainment are excited to announce the initial lineup for the 2009 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. The eighth annual four-day camping and music festival will be held on June 11 - 14 on the same beautiful 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee, 60 miles south of Nashville. Every year Bonnaroo seeks to make history by offering unique and exclusive performances by rock's greatest legends as well as its most significant newcomers. A full list of confirmed acts follows, and more will be announced in the coming weeks. The final Bonnaroo 2009 lineup will total over 120 bands and over 20 comedians performing on 13 stages over four days. Tickets go on sale exclusively through www.bonnaroo.com on Saturday, February 7 at 12:00 PM Eastern.

Santogold, Lykke Li and Kanye West are all on the new N.A.S.A. track that everyoneistalkingabout. That reminded me of the rest of the Woodies pictures I have sitting here. The new song (streaming as a video), and more pics, below...

"Indeed, I will be liveblogging the election coverage for four hours. Four fucking hours of me scanning through all the election coverage -- the three majors, MSNBC, FOX, CNN and, God help me, PBS. Why not drop by at INDECISION 2008? Would it kill you?* (*If it would literally kill you, please don't)" [Patton Oswalt]

mtvU, MTV's 24-hour college network, today announced that college favorites Santogold, Vampire Weekend, Lykke Li and All Time Low will take the stage for a night of unforgettable live performances at the 2008 "mtvU Woodie Awards" - the definitive college music awards. All four are nominated for Woodie Awards this year, as voting continues on mtvU.com/woodies. Additionally, four college radio stations progressed today to the final round of voting as they battle to be named Best Campus Radio Station and five college bands were named as finalists for the "Best Music on Campus Woodie Award," each vying for a chance to be declared best college band in America.

The only awards to honor the music voted best by the college audience, the 2008 "mtvU Woodie Awards" will take place on November 12, 2008 at Roseland Ballroom in New York City and premiere on-air November 19, 2008 at 8pm ET on mtvU, mtvU.com and in high definition on Palladia. MTV, MTV2 and MTV News will also broadcast highlights from the musical performance-packed show.

You can vote for who should win a Woodie HERE. I'm not sure at the moment how you get tickets, but they do manage to pack Roseland full of college students each year, so let me know if you find the way. The rest of the press release is below...

Santogold and the Goldrush tour hit the Fillmore at Irving Plaza in NYC last night (Sept 19, 2008). The place filled up through out the night, ending with a 45 minute (or so) set by Santi to a sold out crowd, (that included Jay-Z and Beyonce). She didn't play "I'm a Lady," but pretty much played the rest of the album and tracks off her Top Ranking mixtape including a song that samples Animal Collective's "Comfy in Nautica"...

"She played a few songs off the mixtape, asking the crowd if they were familiar with it. It didn't seem like a 45 minute set. Plus she only has one album and like 3 or 4 songs on Top Ranking. My only complaint was that there wasn't a full band backing her because I was under the impression that there would be. Other than that it was pretty fun. Her dancers are awesome and she sounded great." [Anonymous]

Low vs. Diamond, Plastic Little and Trouble Andrew opened up the marathon of a night. More photos from the whole night, and Santogold's setlist, below...

"You might have heard this song on the SANTOGOLD VS DIPLO CD,but Radioclit went back to the studio with our boy Esau Mwamwaya to make it even even better. Check for it on the new Esau Mixtape out soon also Radioclit "Secousse" is out on Beatport right now. Also keep your eyes peeled for the Paul Devro Remix to surface sometime soon." [Mad Decent blog]

"Mos Def was joined by Talib Kweli for a series of Black Star songs including "Definition," "Respiration" and "Brown Skin Lady."......with Pharoahe Monch joining former label-mates on stage for a boisterous performance of "Simon Says."

....Slick Rick joined his Def Jam proteges [ED: Method Man & Redman] briefly for a partial performance of "La Di Da Di,"....... After Raekwon, who performed earlier with Ghostface returned to the stage, EPMD followed, performing "Strictly Business" and "So What Cha Saying." Washington DC's DJ Kool entered the set, performing "Let Me Clear My Throat,"...... Upon the set closing, Keith Murray completed the Def Squad triad with a performance, without Sermon at the time, of "Rapper's Delight."

.....the largest crowd reaction came from Nas speaking to the crowd about how he needs to "breathe." Repeating the word, DJ Green Lantern played the instrumental to "Success," prompting a Yankee-cap tucked low Jay-Z to rush on the stage.... and perform his first verse..... the two then performed "Black Republicans."

About nickel eye: Soon to be released The Time of the Assassins... For the moment, you can visit Mark Ronson's most recent radio broadcast (06/06/08) of "Authentic Shit" at www.eastvillageradio.com. At 1hr and 19mins, you will find a sneak preview of two songs and an interview with nickel eye.

You probably already heard that Converse is giving away a song written by Pharrell Williams, N.E.R.D., Santogold and Julian Casablancas "as part of the brand's Century celebration". I put the whole press release for that one below....

Christopher Shar of the group Man Man, Santogold, and M.I.A. backstage during day 1 of the Coachella Valley Music Festival and Arts Festival held at the Empire Polo Field on April 25, 2008 in Indio, California. [BONAFIDE HUSTLER]

"Spank rock isn't real hip hop , it would be disrepectful to have him on the same bill as Rakim.." [Anonymous]

I don't know who wrote the above anonymous comment, but I've had more than one conversation with more than one hip hop fan about the very same thing - "real" vs "hipster" and/or "fake" hip hop. Are Spank Rock and friends "hip hop"? Does it matter? I don't care, but it's always a fun conversation, and I couldn't help but notice the strong prescence Spank Rock and friends have on this year's Rock the Bells festival lineup - a festival that is is, for the most part anyway, about hip hop.